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JOHN SEVIER 



JOHN SEVIER 




CITIZEN 






SOLDIER 






LEGISLATOR 






GOVERNOR 






STATESMAN 






1744-1815 






"5 JLn,vOyJ^, (D <.lv«^ 




Knoxvillc. Tenn. : 

THE ZI-PO PRESS, PRINTERS 
1910 






FOREWORD 

To tke people of tke Appalacman 

Region : 
So loved ty tke author and of ^vnom 
ne was an integral part, this sketcn, 
edited by his daughter, is 

DEDICATED 

Stetcn was prepared m 1893, the 
occasion, tke reinterment of Sevier s 
remains on tke Court House Square, 
KnoxviUe, ^vkere noTv stands tke 
monument to Tennessee s First 
Governor. 

"Wlooij ^Qt^U '^tyr\^l^^ 
August 20, 1910 



^ y/j'A 



f] O H N S E V I E R 



Governor Jolin Sevier 



I 



T IS not my purpose to trace in detail the 
remarkatle career of Jolin Sevier, but to 
rconrine myself ratker to a consideration of his 
personal cLaracteristics. After all, tkese are 
the tests of men. Tkese reveal tke inner, tke 
true man. Actions may be adventitious or 
accidental. Tkey may ke as false as words 
sometimes are. Tkey may kide or okscure tke 
real man keneatk an overskadowmg glamour. 
Tke touck of Itkuriel's spear may ke necessary 
to dissolve tke illusion or reveal tke concealed 
deformity. Tke battle of Saratoga made 
General Gates, m tke popular estimation, tke 
first general in tke Continental armies. Con- 
gress was overwkelmed witk petitions, praying 
for kis appointment as Commander-in-Ckier. 
But long after Gates passed into obscurity, tke 
sterling qualities of tke modest ^^Vaskington 
made kim not only first general, but likewise 
first citizen of tke Rcpuklic. 

Wky was Jokn Sevier tke idol of tke people 
\\''kile ke lived, and w^ky kas ke been invested, since 
kis deatk, witk an almost fakulous ckaracter? 
Wky does tke sound of kis name on tke street 
cause tke passer-by to stop and listen ? AVky 
alike in tke kumblest cottage and in tke lordliest 
mansion, does kis name stir up feelings suck as 
are awakened by no otker name ? rle -won nc 



JOHN SEVIER 

great victory like i orktown or New Orleans. 

He was not a great general for Le Lad no 

cnance to he like WasLington, Jackson, or 

Scott. He was no braver tkan SLelby or 
Tipton ; in intellect lie was not tLe superior or 
James Robertson ; in statesmanskip be w^as no 
greater tban several otbers ; in learning be was 
not aistmguisbeJ, and m polisb and courtly 
grace be ^vas inrerior to ^iVilliam Blount. i et 
none or tbese, nor any or bia associates, not 
even General Jackson, ever beld tbe people or 
every condition by sucb a magic spell, by sucb 
a bond ox love. None of tbem became, as be, 
a consecrated name in every bome, tbe very 
Penates or every bousebold. 

Altbougb tbe lire of Sevier is ^svell known 
to every intelligent reader, and tbougb tbere 
was notbmg m it so resplendent at to dazzle 
men ; yet, in spite of tbese facts, a mytbical 
impression lingers around bis memory, some- 
wbat akin to tbat around tbe name of K-ing 
Artbur. ^iVe may strive to rid ourselves of 
tbis impression, but all in vain. Tbere was, m 
fact, notbing mytbical or even mysterious in bis 
cbaracter. Of all tbe public men of bis time, 
be was perbaps tbe most open and undisguised, 
botb m words and in action. He was tbe 
bigbest type of manly frankness. 

To ulustrate : We know tbat ninety-seven 
years ago Sevier sat in Knoxvillc as a member 



JOHN SEVIER 

of tlie Legislative council for tms Territory, 
appointed by WasLington ; -we know also tkat 
soon after tkis, for twice six years (two years 
intervening on account of a constitutional 
inhibition), Le was daily seen on tke streets 
as tke ckief executive of tkis young State. ^V e 
know tkat ke lived around tke comer, -witkin 
sound of my voice ; tkat kc daily mingled witk 
kis fellow citizens most freely, most unostenta- 
tiously, witk tkat winnmg grace and open- 
keartedness wkick captivated all wko saw kim. 
We also know tkat on tke lot across tke street, 
just opposite to kis monument, tken tke public 
square, ke denounced General Jackson in tke 
bitterest terms, accusing kim of kaving stolen 
and run away witk anotker man's wife, and 
tkat tke latter m turn denounced kim. 

Notwitkstanding tkese facts, a feeling akm 
to tke mytkical, quite different from tkat con- 
nected witk tke names or deeds of any of kis 
contemporaries, lingers around tke memory of 
Jokn Sevier. At tke sound of kis name some- 
tkmg starts tke imagination into activity. We 
long to know more of tkis man. We would 
call back tke past, and eagerly interrogate it as 
to tke looks, tke dress, tke manners, tke words, 
tke life of tkis by-gone kero. We would 
know more of kim, as of a distinguisked 
ancestor of wkom we never grow tired of 
bearing. W^e are kindled into entkusiasm by 



J O H N S E V I E R 

tLe memory of Lim. And eUtlmsiismV ^n ^ts 
^ highest Jevelopmeiit, closeljr toucLes bn tte 
^tealms of imagmatiori. Imagination,!!! turn, 
' easily passes tke borders of tLe real, and lingers 

on the outer confines of tke fabulous. 

, > Sevier s name is an electrical one. It flasbes 
.; through the teart as does no otLer name of Kis 
. time. It kindles emotions like tkose produced 
by the names of Tell, Bruce, or A^olfe. 
Compare tke impression left on tkeir country- 
men by tne tbree greatest men of tbe revolu- 
. tionai-y epocb, Waskington, Hamilton, and 
<: Jefferson, -witk tkat left by Sevier on tkose 
, wko came vt^itkin tke spell of kis influence. 

We all bow to tke magesty and splendor of 
tke name of \Vaskington. By common consent 

^ ke IS accounted tke first citizen of tke -world. 
Edvi^ard Everett says : "He ^svas tke greatest 
of good men, and tke best of great men." 
Charles James Fox, states tkat a ckaracter of 
suck virtues "-was kard to ke found in kistory.' 
Lord Erskine, declares tkat ke was tke only 
kuman being for -svkom ke ever felt an ""aweful 

^ reverence. ' 

';' Amd yet tkis wonderful man, wko coih- 
manded tke komage of all tke -world, -was tke 
okject of but little sincere attackment. He 
extoii^d reverence and a-we, but not love, In 
manner ke -was cold, kaugkty, reserved, and 



jq 0-] H N S E V I E R 

ihxmal. As Commander of tLc army ke was 
stem, and unapproacLablc. As President or tne 
ne'wr republic, Le introduced etiquette and cere- 
monies almost regal, sucn as no executive since 
his day kas dared imitate. He kad kis coat or 
arms emblazoned on kis carriage, and wken 
traveling or ndrng out ke -went in tke style or 
a royal prince, ^vitk liveried servants, m a 
coack and SIX. He was tke grandest, as well 
as tke wealtkiest gentleman or kis time. 

' Notking but tke pure and lofty integrity or 
v/askington, kis evenly poised intellect, kis 
splendid services, kis almost unparalleled sense 
OT justice, and kis unapproackablc dignity, could 
kave given kim kis world-wide reno-svn. He 
wasrirst in peace and first m war, not because 
of kis pefisonsd traits, but because ke kad been 
first in war. A^itk our modem ideas, and 
leveling tendencies, it is at least doubtful 
wketker tke peerless Waskington of eigkty- 
rime, could to-day ke elected President of tke. 
Vjovemment wkick ke more tkan any otker 
man establisked. Yet ke was, all in all, tke 
most sjrmmetrical, tke most perfectly rounded 
ckaracter of kis age, perkaps of any age. His 
name and fame are tke most priceless jewels of, 
tke republic. 

:;. Jefferson, next after \Vaskington, kas com- 
manded tke largest skare of tke komage and 
afdmirationt of kis countrymen. He was a 



JOHN SEVIER 

sckolar, a tkinker, a pLilosopker, an accomplisked 
writer, and a far-seeing statesman. Had lie 
done no more, two tkmgs would immortalize 
Lim tLe writing of tke Declaration or Inde- 
pendence and the purchase ox Louisiana. But 
lie did muck more. Eitkcr from a genuine lore 
of popular ngkts, or from a spirit imkiked in 
France during tke great drama or tke Revolm- 
tion, wkere ke saw a wkole nation rjse to 
redress tke monstrous wrongs of centuries, ke 
kecame a great party leader, tke founder of a 
political party, tke influence of wkick is all- 
powerful to tkis day. Tkere was muck tkat 
was nokle and admirakle in kim, and kis name 
will ke kailed witk gratitude ky kis country- 
men as long as kistory is read. In spite of 
defects, Tkomas Jefferson was a great, and as 
tke world judges, a good man. His life was 
fuU or nokle deeds. And from kis tomk on tke 
keigkts of MonticeUo tkere goes out to-day a 
migktier influence, for good or for evil, tkan 
from tkat of any man of tke Revolutionary 
epock. But ky kis great talents and splendid 
services ke extorted tke admiration only, and 
not tke entkusiastic love of kis countrymen. It 
Nvas admiration of greatness, not love for tke 
man. 

Tke tkird of tke tkree great men of tke 
Revolutionary era, was Alexander Hamilton. 
In splendor and grasp of intellect, ke surpassed 



JOHN SEVIER 

all tke great men or Lis Jay, and all Nvbo Lave 
since arisen, unless Mr. ^Ar eLster, forms an 
exception. W^asLington s administration owes 
nearly all its lustre to Lis marvelous genius, 
TLe celeLrated Prince De Talleyrand, wLo 
knew tLe great men or Lis time, LotL in Europe 
and tLe United States, pronounced, tLat tLe 
greatest men or Lis time were Fox, Napoleon, 
and Hamilton, and added tLat Hamilton was 
unquestionaLly tLe greatest or tLese. A recent 
Listorian, Pror. McMaster, says tLat Hamilton 
is ranked "as Ly far tLe most Lrilliant and 
versatile among tLe rounders or tLe repuLlic." 

At tLe age or seventeen Hamilton was re- 
nowTied tLrougLout tLe colonies as a political 
writer. At twenty-tLree Le Lad acLieved a 
fame of wLicL tLe greatest man migLt feel proud 
at sixty. At tLirty-two Le Leld Ly far tLe 
most important post, at tLat time, in WasLing- 
ton s caLmet, tLat of Secretary of tLe Treasury. 
Every well read citizen knows -vnth. wLat 
aLility and success Le grappled witL tLe proLlems 
of finance and puLlic credit. WLo does not 
rememLer tLe magnificent figure of Lim given 
by Webster ? "He smote tLe rock or national 
resources, and abundant streams of revenue 
gusLed fortL. He toucLed tLe dead corpse of 
tLe Public Credit, and it sprung upon its feet." 

If \VasLington s skul saved Lis country in 
war, tLe genius of Hamilton rescued it from 



JOHN SEVIER 

tankruptcy and ruin in time of peace. AVliile 
in private lire he was gentle anJ lovable, and at 
all times trave, noble, and true, witL all Lis 
splendid and skining qualities, -wlio ever feels a 
tkrill OT emotion at tke sound or Hamilton's 
name ? He was too intent on Lis great scLemes 
for tLe aggrandizement ot Lis country, too out- 
spoken m tLe advocacy or unpopular tLeones, 
to become tLe idol or tLe people. His great 
influence was due to tLe masterrul supremacy 
of Lis genius. Not until Lis tragic deatL at tLe 
Lands of Aaron Burr, was tLere sLown any 
genuine love for Lun. TLen tLere was an out- 
burst of sympatLy and indignation at "tLe 
deep damnation of Lis taking off' never WT.t- 
nessed in tLis country Lefore, and but once 
since. .|- 

Hamilton, like Jefferson, vi^as tLe founder or* 
a political party. TLe principles of tLe two 
parties were directly antagonistic ; one tending 
to permanence, strengtL, national unity, and 
national sovereignty, tLe otLer to weakness in 
tLe national Lead, (and to disintegration). TLese 
diverse tLeories are still at war w^tL eacL otLer, 
and no man can tell wLicL will ultimately 
triumpL. Ji^.vu. . -jcYzr—xs 

Of tLe tLf^e men"! Lave Leen consideringi 
not one or tLem left a permanent impression on 
tLe Learts and affections of tLe people. TLey 
Leld sway over tLe mind, not tLe Leart. We 



JOHN SEVIER 

gaze on tke august form of WasLington -witk 
awe and reverence as lie stands 

""'In snape ana gesture prouoly eminent. 
Stern, grave and unapproackatle, tut 
^JV^e reel no tnrill or entLusastic emotion." 

^^e turn to Mr. Jerrerson, witL tke pro- 
roundest admiration, as we look on Lis benevo- 
lent, serene, intellectual race, tne brow marked 
witk deep tkougkt, and tke calm eyes gazing 
into Tuturity. ^Ve admire, Lut do not love, 

AiVe turn to Hamilton, and are filled witk 
wonder as we bekold tke marks of genius on 
kis krow, and flaskmg from kis eyes. But tkis 
IS all. We admire kim as we would a master- 
piece of statuary. 

Now, look on Jokn Sevier as ke steps on tke 
scene, tall and graceful, witk free, military 
kearing. Natural dignity is softened ky ease 
of manner. Handsome and kenevolent, m 
aspect, ckeerful and gracious, tkose deep klue, 
loving eyes facmate w^tk an irresistible ckarm. 
Tke keart swells and tkroks -witk a new emo- 
tion We recognize a friend, a relative, tke 
leader of our clan. ^W^e want to skout, to 
tkrow up our kats. In our wild entkusiasm we 
would cry out, "Nolickucky Jack, Nolickucky 
Jack!'^ 

Suck were tke impressions produced on tke 
minds of men ky tkese four notakle ckaracters. 



JOHN SEVIER 

Perkaps tlie deatt of Sevier in tke wilderness 
or a neighboring State, far rrom Lome and 
kindred and friends, and tke long neglect of kis 
remains ky kis countrymen, kas served some- 
wkat to deepen tke universal love entertained 
for kis memory. But tkis will not explain tke 
almost idolatrous affection entertained for kim 
ky tke people of tke Revolutionary epock, 
even more universal tken tkan now. Nor does 
tke distinguisked part ke kore in tke kattle of 
King 3 mountain, krilliant as tkat was, account 
for tkis feeling. Tke splendor of tkat kattle 
IS far more correctly appreciated to-day tkan ky 
tke generation tken living. Tkis is not kecause 
we over-estimate its signal kriUiancy, kut be- 
cause, for many years, under tke klaze of tke 
crowning triumpk of Yorktown, its splendor 
was okscured. Indeed it is only recently tkat 
tke importance and greatness of tke victory at 
King's Mountain kave attracted puklic atten- 
tion and general admiration. 

vVliat, tken, -was tke special cause of tke 
remarkakle love entertained for Sevier, ky kis 
own, as well as ky succeeding generations, a 
love wkick seems to grow deeper as time re- 
cedes. I venture to reply ; it was due to kis 
broad and universal humanity. Tke keart of 
Jokn Sevier was full of koundless goodwill. 
He was kind and gentle and winning. Yet 
tkere was not tke sligktest trace of demagogism 
m kis actions or w^ords. He was tke people's 



JOHN SEVIER 

best friencl, and always and everywliere tLe 
ckampion or rignt ana justice. Frankness, 
sincerity, and open manliness marked kis con- 
duct. The nigliest praise I can testow is to 
say ; he was true, ne was good. In sympathy and 
love ke was in touck witk tke w^kole kuman 



"Howe'er it ke, it seems to me 
'Xis only nokle to ke good ; 
K-ind kearts are more tkan coronets. 
And simple raitk tkan Norman klood. * 

Two incidents in tke King's Mountain ex- 
pedition, skow Sevier s deep kumanity. On 
tke first nigkt or tke marck, James Crawford 
and a lad ky kis persuasion, deserted, and carried 
tke news of tke approack of tke patriots to 
Ferguson. In tke kattle wkick followed Craw- 
ford was taken prisoner. Soon afterwards a 
court martial was convened to try certain 
prisoners, and Crawford w^as krougkt out for 
trial. Sevier promptly stepped forward and 
claimed mm as one of kis men. He was accord- 
ingly turned over to Sevier, wko pardoned 
kim, tkougk ke was guilty of tke kigkest offense 
know^n to tke law^s of w^ar. He w^as taken 
kack into Sevier s command, and proved ever 
afterwards one of kis most faitkful soldiers. 

In studying tke ckaracter of Sevier, witkout 
any reference to tkis incident, it occurred to 



J OHN SEVIER 

me tLat tliere 'was, in some respects, a striking 
resemblance l>etrween Sevier and tke immortal 
Lincoln. And it is a singular coincidence 
tkat tLis -wonderful man, Lincoln, so full of 
Lumanity, tad an unalteraole repugnance to tke 
execution of deserters, and seldom, if ever, 
allowed tLe deatn penalty to be inflicted on 
tkem, wken tlie matter was presented to Lim. 

Xke otter incident also occurred on tke nigkt 
of tte court martial, w^Lick Lad been tastily 
convened, to try certain prisoners taken in tte 
late tattle, for alleged outrages committed on 
tte patriots. Xte proceedings were summary, 
tte triaL tasty, tte evidence douttless tearsay 
or mere rumor. Some of ttese men were no 
doutt guilty, some pertaps not- Tte court 
condemned, for immediate execution, ty tang- 
ing, from ttirty to forty of ttese prisoners, 
auttorities differing as to tte numter. 

Xte trials over, tte executions tegan. Tte 
victims were swung, ttree at a time, from a 
projecting oak limt. Orficers of tigt rank 
were superintending and turrying up tte exe- 
cutions. It was late at nigtt, in tte midst of 
tte vast forest, ligtted ty tlazing camp fires. 
Nine tad already teen tung, and tteir todies 
•were dangling from tte oak limt, writting m 
tte ttroes and convulsions of deatt. Tte next 
ttree were already tied, and, witt talters 
around tteir necks, stood tremtlmg awaiting 



JOHN SEVIER 

tLeir turn. In the Dackground can be aimly 
seen tLe twenty or tkirty otLer miserable 
•wretckes, kuJJlecl togetber, waiting for tbeir 
borrible end. Orr in tbe sbadow two omcers 
of commanding presence, are nervously w^atcb- 
mg tbe sickening scene, by tbe red glare or 
torcbes, wbicb cast a somber ligbt tbrougb tbe 
gloomy old woods. For a moment tbey are 
seen in earnest consultation. Convulsively 
tbey clasp tbe bilt of tbeir sword. Tbey 
approacb "witb determined countenance--tbe one 
tall, and elastic in step, tbe otber stem and 
giant-like. Addressing tbe officers m cbarge 
of tbe t\e executions, m an autboritative tone, 
tbey say : "'AiVe are sick of tbis business. We 
bave agreed upon it, and it must be stopped." 
Tbese were Jobn Sevier and Isaac Sbelby. It 
was Sevier wbo uttered tbe immortal words, 
"We are sick of tbis business, and it must be 
stopped." A^ tbe command of tbese noble men, 
tbe work of deatb was stopped. No one dared 
oppose tbe will of tbe lion-bearted, yet tender 
beroes. * 

Draper, in bis "King's Mountain," says, tbat 
after tbe nine were executed, "Sbelby interposed 

NOTE™Tliis. in a very mild form, is the account of this 
affair given by Shelby to his son-in-law. Col. Charles S. Todd, 
late of Kentucky, who related it to me in 1851. and was im- 
mediately reduced by me to writing. Col. Todd was a man 
of the highest integrity and intelligence, having filled many 
important positions of public trust, among others had served 
for four years as Minister to Russia, by appointmen t of 
William Henry Harrison. 



JOHN SEVIER 

and proposed to stop it." On tke otLer Land, 
Roosevelt, in ni3 recent admiratle and exLaustire 
'work, '"TLe ^Vinning of tke West," says; 
"Sevier and Shelby interposed and stoppsd tLe 
taking or lire/ Draper states tkat tke otker 
pr sonera "were pardoned by tLe commindmg 
orricer. It matters not wko pardoned tkem. 
Tke executions were arrested by tke indignant 
proteit or Sevier and Skelky, and it was tkey 
wko created tke disposition to pardon. 

Xke siege or Tipton s kouse arrords another 
illustration or tke kumanity or Sevier. Tks 
recovery or kis property, tke sole object or 
Sevier, would kave been an easy matter kad ke 
acted w^itk kis usual promptness at first. But 
ke delayed, kesitated, because undecided, until 
large reinforcements arrived for Tipton. Sevier 
was silent, negligent, dispirited. His second in 
command, IMaj. Eikolm, advised an immediate 
assault. He replied, "not a gun skall be fired.' 
W^ken urged a second time by Eikolm to make 
an assault, ke silenced kim by saying kc did not 
come tkere "to kill kis countrymen." Tke men 
ke was urged to fire on were kis friend?, kis 
old soldieri. Little wonder ke kesitated. For 
tke first time in kis life ke became as a womm. 
Here again we see tke great keart of kumanity 
keating m tke breait of Sevier. 

I Lave been speaking of Jokn Sevier as a 
man, as a man m kis relations to kis fellow 



JOHN SEVIER 

men, illustrating in his own lire the simple out 
grand trutk or Tennyson, tliat tne Ligliest 
nobility IS goodness. This was Sevjer s strengtli. 
He was kumane, ke was true, ke was never 
raise. He lived among an austere people, tkc 
Scotck-Irisk, a race or tke severest morality, 
and tkese demanded of kim tke most exalted 
integrity. And nokly did ke meet tkese 
exacting demands. So universal was kis repu- 
tation for justice ar.d goodness, tkat even tke 
Indians, wkom ke kad so often ckastised, 
trusted and loved kim. Old Tassel, writing 
to Governor Martin for some one to interpose 
against tke encraackment of tke wkites, said ; 
"Send Col. Sevier, ke is a good man." 

Sevier kad as competitors strong, amkitious 
men, suck as always flock to a new State. 
Had ke besn an ordinary man, ke would kave 
been supplanted by some of tkese. His public 
career began in 1770, and w^as terminated by 
deatk, 1815. He kad as rivals suck men as 
Robertson, Tipton, Blount, Cocke, Anderson, 
and greatest of all, Andrew Jackson. Yet 
durmg all tkis time ke was absolutely supreme 
in influence. He keld kis place, as unquestioned 
leader, in tke presence and in spite of tke bitter 
koitility of Jackson. One of kis contempories 
said, "A^c all expect kim to remain Governor 
for life." 

Tke greatness of men skould b« judged by 



JOHN SEVIER 

their opportunities, as 'well as oy their acnieve- 
mcnts. Great opportunities make great aaen. 
Oevier had none or these. 6ut he iivas equal 
to tlie most exacting emergencies or liis lire. 
Wkat lie migLt kare been witk ^iVaskington's 
opportunities, no one can tell. True, tkere 
kas keen kut one Waskmgton, kut one pater 
patriae; kut kow muck Sevier, under similar 
circumstances, migkt kave keen like Waskmg- 
ton, must remain forever undetermined. In 
justice, in tke capacity for war and for admin- 
istration~tke tkree strong points m Waskmg- 
ton's ckaracter — Sevier kad unquestionakly, 
kigk akility. 

Pkelan says, "Of all wkose fame was attained 
in tke State, tke most illustrious, tke most 
conspicuous, tke one wkose name was and 
deserves still to ke, tke most resplendent, is 
Jokn Sevier." 

As to Sevier, tke soldier, kistory is at last 
recording its verdict in tke most complimentary 
terms. Of kis Indiaa figkting, I will not speak 
(in detail). He was in tkirty-five figkts, and 
was always victorious. His tactics were sim- 
ple. He moved witk suck celerity as to ke 
al'ways tke kerald of kis o"wn coming. Tken 
ke dasked on tke Indians, overwkclmmg and 
dismaying tkem ky tke impetuosity of tke 
ckarge. It was tke rusk of tke tempest. All 
was over in a few minutes. Some of kxs ex- 



J O H N i S^ E iV 11 EJ RL 

peditions into tke Indian country rival tke talest 
of romance. Roosevelt states tliat Sevier ^vasj 
tke first and tke greatest of all tke Indian 

figkters of tke West. ' - ' ^- 

' ' ' 

v> Tke far-reacking importance of tkis Indiattj 
Tigktmg Las not keen, and is not now, kalf^ 
appreciated. Few men ever tkmk tkat w^keni 
Sevier and Rokertson, !Boone and Logan were 
repelling Indian attacks, or invading tke Indian 
country, tkey were doing anytking more tkan 
protecting tke w^kite settlements. Wkewas^, 
in fact, tkey were unconsciously figktmg tke 
kattles of tke Revolution. Tke same great 
power wkick put in motion tke armies of 
Clinton and Cornwallis, for tke sukjugation of 
tke colonies along tke Atlantic, and encircled 
tkem witk a line of fire, also set in motion tke 
fierce savage nations from Canada to Florida, 
kent on tke destruction of all tke infant settle- 
ments west of tke AUegkanies and tke Blue 
Ridge. Official records skow tkat it was as 
muck tke policy of tke Britisk ministry to de- 
stroy tkese settlements, and exterminate tke 
settlers, or drive tkem east of tke AUegkanies, 
as it was to destroy tke army of Waskington. 
Botk were parts of tke same cruel -war, tke 
same sckeme of sukjugation. Britisk agents, 
skrewd and keartless, w^itk a plentiful supply 
of gold and presents, arms and ammunition, 
w^ere kept at w^ork among all tke trikes east of 



JOHN SEVIER 

tne Mississippi, stirrmg tnem up to tneir work 
or tlooJ. Henry Hamilton, Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor or Canada, witL Leadquarters at Detroit, 
Avas at tne head or tnis diabolical movement, 
inere was an organized plan or operations. 
Nor did tne inramy stop here. Besides alluring 
tte savages witL presents, tlieir cupidity and 
ferocity were still rurtlier stimulated by tne 
purcliase from tliem of tke scalps tkey Liad taken. 
TLe instructions given by tke Liome government 
were to destroy tke settlers, or drive tnem east 
of tke Allegbanies. 

In pursuance of tkis compreLensive plan, tne 
Indians nortk of tne Oliio made unceasing war 
on tlie settlers around Pittsburg and on tbose m 
Kentucky. Tkose soutk of tke Okio karassed 
and tkreatened tke settlements on tke Cumker- 
land, and attempted over and over again to 
destroy tke Hols ton, tke ^Vatauga, and tke 
Nolickucky people. So, also, tke frontiers of 
tke soutkem colonies were karassed ky tkese 
fierce allies of England. Again and again tkese 
demons, silently and murderously, crept, witk 
noiseless tread, tkrougk tke dense forests, to fall 
on tke settlements w:itk fire and tomaka^vk and 
scalping knife, sparing neitker age nor sex. And 
as often, tke leaders of tke settlements — even 
Skelky, Ckristian, Robertson, Boone, Kenton, 
Logan and Todd, and notably Sevier and 
Clarke~led expeditions into tke komes of tke 



JOHN SEVIER 

savages and inilictea on tnem meritea chastise- 
ment. 

So, at tLe close of tke Revolution, not a 
settlement west or tke mountains Lad teen 
destroyed, not an incti oi territory Lad been 
lost. Under tke leadersnip or Sevier, tke 
^iVatauga, tke Holston, and tke Nolickucky 
settlers kad slowly crept down tkose streams, 
extending tke settlements rurtker and lurtker 
-west. Rokertson kad rirmly planted kis reet 
on tke Cumkerland and m tke keart or Middle 
Tennessee. Boone, Logan and otkers kad suc- 
cessfully defended Kentucky, tkougk more 
tkan once narrowly escaping destruction. And 
General George Rogers Clarke, ky a series of 
exploits almost unparalleled in daring, kad 
conquered and firmly keld Indiana and Illinois. 

No^v came peace. ^iVkere skould ke tke 
western koundary line ? Spam kad keen our 
ally m tke late war. Ske o^vned vast posses- 
sions Tvest of tke Mississippi. Forecasting tke 
growtk and expansion of tkis young repuklic, 
and foreseeing danger to ker western possessions, 
ske naturally sougkt to restrict our territory 
by making tke Allegkanies our koundary. 
France, also our faitkful ally, insisted tkat tke 
line skould ke so fixed as to include tke country 
around tke kead waters of tke Tennessee, cov- 
ering East Tennessee and tkat ketween tke 
Okio and tke Cumkerland. Tkus would ke 



JP^ (Xi H N -^ S ■ E V Ii H3 RI 

rcstorea to England a large part or Tennessee, 
and the territory now lorming the States or 
Alabama and Mississippi, togctKer ^vitli tke 
great region arterxvards known as the north- 
Apv^est territory. Strange to say, tlie Continental 
Congress, in a chivalric spirit or gratitude and 
courtesy. Lad instructed our commissioners, m 
Tixmg the boundary, to regard tke wiskes ot 
France. Franklin wished to obey these in- 
structions. But Jay was immovable m demand- 
ing tne Missssippi as the w^estern boundary, 
Adams sided witb Jay, and England yielding, 
tbe eastern bank or that river for most or its 
lengtb became our -western boundary. 

It tbus appears tbat wbile tbe Constinental 
armies barely beld tbe Atlantic States against 
tbe Britisb fleet and armies, a few bnndred' 
bunters and pioneers of Tennessee, Western 
Pennsylvania and Soutbwest Virginia, mostly 
unaided by Continental Congress, and acting 
at tbeir own expense, and on tbeir own volition, 
won and beld -wbat bas proved to be tbe very 
beart of our great empire, against tbe combined 
power of all tbe savage nations between Canada 
and Florida, backed by Britisb agents, stimu- 
lated by British gold, and aided sometimes by 
Britisb troops. Putting entirely out of view 
tbe services rendered to tbe cause of Independ- 
ence by Sevier and bis associates, at King's 
Mountain, and m otber battles m tbe Soutb, it 



ij O H N S E^IVHI E R 

is manifest ttat tlieir Imlian battles on tke 

-frontier were as important to tne lasting power 

ana greatness of our country as were tne battles 

of AVasLington anJ Greene. Tbe frontier 

f 4caders occupied, won, and keld tke territory 

■ now covered by tke great States of Tennessee, 

Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Okio, Indiana, 

Illinois, W^isconsin, Mickigan, and parts of 

~ Pennsylvania and Virginia. Tkese men planted 

tkeir feet on tkis great territory and firmly 

keld it. In war, as in peace, tke doctrine of 

uti possidetes goes far in fixing tides. 

Ckiefest among tke men -who won and keld 

tkis magnificent empire were Jokn Sevier and 
[.George Rogers Clarke. Most appropriately 

kas Sevier been called tke ''Common-wealtk 
: Builder." Most truly, m tke inscriptions on 

kis monument, ke is designated as "one of tke 

founders of tke Republic." 

It only remain? for me, in briefest terms, io 
speak of King's Mountain. History kas done 
tkis battle and its teroes, and especially Sevier 
and Skelby, tardy and niggardly justice. Even 
Draper, in kis eager desire to glorify anotker 
wortky kero. Col. ^W^illiam Campkell, kas 
failed to give merited prominence and praise 
to tkese two. It is fitting in tkis connection, 
tkat Sevier and Skelky skould be mentioned 
\togetker. In speaking of tkis brilliant ackieve- 
'■ ment tkcy cannot be considered apart. Tkat 



JOHN SEVIER 

to tLem -we are cliicrly mdebteJ for tliis signal 
victory, I Jo not hesitate to amrm. But for 
tLem tLe world would not Lave teen startled, 
at a time or universal gloom, witL a new joy 
and mspred by a new Lope, tLrougL tLe news 
or tLis victory. But for tLem tLe -world would 
never even Lave Leard of King s Mountain. 

Hear the facts. Sevier and SLelLy orjgi- 
nated tLe expedition. Ttey marked out its 
^ plan. On tLeir own personal crciJit ttey 
raised tLe money necessary for tLe expedition. 
XLey p'lt into tLe iield every man wLo could 
Le spared from tLeir respective commands. 
TLey, Ly tLeir influence and persuasion, 
secured tLe co-operation of Col. CampLell and 
also Col. McDo-well, and in tLe sense m wLicL 
SiielLy used tLe words, """tLey emLodied most 
of tLe men wLo crossed tLe mountains." 
From tLe day tLey sat togetLer on tLe Noli- 
cLucky projecting and planning tLis dar ng 
expedt:on, to tLe c!ay of tLe gatLering at 
SycamDre SLoals, tLese two fiery sp rits, like 
HigLland cL'eftang, were rallying tLeir mount- 
ain men. It seems to me tLat no impartial 
mind caa read tLe cxLaustive Listory of tLis 
expedition, Ly Drap«r, witLout Lemg impresaed 
witL tLe fact tLat Sevier and SLelLy were its 
two masterspirits from tLe Legmnmg to its 
close. And wLen safety demanded, tLey 
magnanimously yrelded to anotLer tLe nominal 



JOHN SEVIER 

commancl of tLe enterprise wLick tLey Lad 
originated, and wkick tLey Lad tLe rigLt to 
claim for tLemselves. 

"WLen tLe day of tLe Lattle came, Lrave as 
tLe otLer officer! -were, none surpassed Sevier 
and S^.elLy in daring. I Lave no desire wLat- 
evcr to detract from tLe well earned fame of 
CampLell and Lis associate officers. TLey 
deserve, as tLey are at last receiving, tLe gen- 
erous gratitude of tLeir countrymen. At tLe 
same time, let not tLe true originators of tLis 
immortal expedition, and t^vo of its most illus- 
t»-ious Leroes, Le deprived of tLe cLief glory or 
tLcir own -work. 

And now, on tke one Lundred and tkirteentL 
anniversary of tliis decisive Lattle, we dedicate 
tLis monument to tLe memory of JoLn Sevier, 
tLe fatLer of Tennessee and tLe most Leloved 
of all Ler great men. TLat State w^LicL ke, 
more tLan any otker man, won and faved. 
suffered Lis remains to lie among strangers, 
unmarked and unLonored, for seventy-five 
years. And even now it declines to Lonor m 
a suitaLle manner tLe little left of Lim, finally 
LrougLt Lack to rest at Lis old }-ome. It leaves 
tLis "wc rk of love to kis East Tennessee 
admirers. SLame on tke spirit wLicL feels no 
pride m tLe fame of sueL men as JoLn Sevier 
and James RoLcrtson, and fails to perpetuate 



S} O H N S E V I E R 

Lin our Cai^itoltkcir memory ty statues or 
cttionuments. 

Let Tennessee, if it will, continue to neglect 
.our First Governor, Lut tlie people among 

■wkom ke lived, and ^vliom ke so often led to 

victory, -will all tke more glory m kis memory, 
'= and m tke proud skare tkey kad under him m 

tlie never- to-ke- forgo tton kattle of tke 7tk of 

Octoker, 1780. 

After all, Sevier needs no monument of 
markle or kronzj. Kings Mountain is kis true, 
kis eternal monument, more enduring tkan one 
faskioned of kardest markle. Tkie, wnick \ve 
rear witk our kands, only serves to fittingly 
•^pomt to tkat. 



Ramsey s Annals of Tennessee 

1769-1777. Watauga Association. 

1 777- 1 784. A Part of North Carolina. 

1784-1788. The State of Franklin. 

1 788- 1 790. A Part of North Carolina. 

1 790- 1 796. Territory South of Ohio. 

1796. State of Tennessee. 

CHRONOLOGY 

Events in the Life of John Sevier 

1744-1815 

1 744. Born September 23, Shenandoah Valley, Va. 

1772. Appointed Captain by Lord Dunmore. 
Came to Watauga v^ith his Father. 

1773. Continued to serve under Dunmore. 

1774. Battle of Point Pleasant, October 10. 

1776. August, Watauga Association prayed to be 

annexed to North Carolina. 

1777. Represented Watauga in N. C. Legislature. 

1779. Aggressive Indian Campaign. 

1 780. Battle of King's Mountain, October 7. 

1784. President Jonesboro Convention, August 23. 
Appointed Brigidier General of Militia of 

Washington District, November. 

1785. On record as opposed to further measures as 

to a Nev/ State, January 2. 
Took oath as Governor of Franklin, March 1 
Concluded Indian Treaty, Autumn. 

1786. United v^ith Georgia against the Creeks, 

September. 

1 787. "Brother member of the Cincinnati," February. 

Term as Governor of Franklin expires, 
March 1. 



1787. Asks mediation of Georgia between North 

Carolina and Franklin, June 24. 

1788. Captain-General of State of Franklin. 
Warrant for High Treson ; arrested at Jones- 

boro ; rescued at Morganton. 
Debarred from Office by Assembly of North 
Carolina, November 21. 

1789. Elected to the Assembly of North Carolina 

by Greene County, August. 
Former Act Repealed, Sevier allowed to take 
his seat in the Assembly and reinstated 
Brigidier General, November. 

1 790. Elected to Congress from Washington District, 

then embracing all present State of 
Tennesse, March. 
First Representative of the Mississippi Valley. 
United States accepted deed, what is now 
Tennessee ceased to be a part of North 
Carolina, April 2. 
Took Seat in Congress, June 17. 
V/ashington confirms Sevier as Brigidier- 
General for Washington District upon 
recommendation of Blount, Territorial 
Governor for Tennessee. 
1796. County of Tennessee transfers its name to 

entire State. 
1796-1801. Sevier became Governor of Tennessee, 

March 30. 
180M803. Private Life. 
1803-1809. Again Governor. 
1811-1815. In Congress. 

1815. Re-ele<5ted to Congress without his 
know^ledge. 
Died at Fort Decater, Ala., Sept. 24. 




Erected 1909, ty tke JoKn Sevier, Bonny 

Kate and Sycamore Shoals 

Ckapters, D. A. R. 

FORT WATAUGA 
1770 



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